Is a 1200 Chess Rating Good After 30 Days of Playing?

When you first start to play chess, the joy of finding moves and engaging in a fascinating game is the primary goal. Focus on having fun. However, if you are looking to improve, engaging in tactical learning such as pins, skewers, and forks is a good starting point.

Assessing a 1200 Chess Rating

Yes, a 1200 chess rating can be considered quite good for someone who has been playing for 30 days. However, this rating's worth depends on several factors including the platform, the players, and the time control.

Where You Played: If you achieved your rating in formal over-the-board tournaments, such as through the United States Chess Federation (USCF) or Fédération Internationale des échecs (FIDE), a 1200 rating is indeed impressive and shows dedicated practice.

Tournament Experience: If you played 25 or more tournament games, your rating has likely become settled and considered established. However, ratings below 1400 can still be provisional and may not be fully representative of your skill level.

Online vs Offline Ratings: Online ratings, especially from platforms like or lichess, are often inflated and less reliable than official tournament ratings. In one instance, I even defeated a player rated 900 points above Magnus Carlsen in an online game!

Understanding the 1200 Rating Level

A 1200 rating is considered decent but not exceptional. It's only considered good relative to newcomers and other beginners. However, at this level, there is still a lot of room for improvement:

Tactical Awareness: You should be able to recognize basic tactics such as pins, skewers, and forks. Basic Strategies: Basics like opening and middlegame pawn structure might be within your grasp. Game Play: However, your gameplay doesn't necessarily incorporate much strategy. Against a player rated around 1450, you might win occasionally, but an average club player rated 1600 could defeat you within 24 moves.

Improving beyond 1200 requires consistent practice and possibly the guidance of a coach. One session with a good coach can reveal your strengths and pinpoint areas for improvement. For example, a 1200-rated player is far from being an average player (which is around 1400) and should always strive for continuous improvement.

Steps for Continuous Improvement

Find a Coach: A coach can provide personalized feedback and help you develop specific weaknesses.
Practice Regularly: Consistent practice is key to improving your rating and understanding of the game. Study Opening and Midgame Theory: Review Games: Analyzing your games can help identify patterns and strategic mistakes. Join Tournaments: Participating in tournaments can help you gain more experience and test your skills against stronger opponents.

Conclusion

While a 1200 chess rating is a good achievement, the journey to becoming a more skillful player is far from over. Keep your passion for the game alive, and with dedication and practice, you can reach even higher levels.